Federal, state and local officials today
dedicated the Little Vermilion Bay Sediment Trapping Project
 another completed milestone in the 10-year-old campaign
to restore and protect coastal Louisiana.

Led by officials from NOAA's
National Marine Fisheries Service and the Louisiana
Department of Natural Resources, the dedication focused on
the successful Little Vermilion project, which was designed to
protect the bay's shoreline from erosion, trap sediments for
marshes and restore existing wetlands. The Little Vermilion project
was funded for $900,000 under the Coastal Wetlands Planning Protection
and Restoration Act, also known as the Breaux Act.

The event, held in the Vermilion Parish
Courthouse in Abbeville, La., drew local citizens and government
officials, including 7th District Congressman Chris
John, who represents the area.

"The restoration project at Little
Vermilion Bay, provided for under the Breaux Act, is a great
example of a successful federal/state partnership," said
Congressman John. "Coastal restoration efforts in Louisiana
have received much attention this past year, and we must continue
to build upon partnerships and projects like Little Vermilion
Bay, in order to protect our valuable coastline."

Louisiana Department of Natural Resources
Secretary Jack Caldwell commended and thanked Vermilion Parish
community leaders for their role in the terracing project.

The Little Vermilion project was completed
by Berry Brothers Construction, Inc. of Berwick, La., in August
1999. The project features a series of marsh terraces, also called
chevrons, designed to slow shoreline erosion and trap sediment.
The 40 acres of chevrons have begun to allow marsh development
through sediment accretion. The project also was designed to
protect existing wetlands by reducing wave action in the shallow
waters of the bay. Over the life of the project, officials estimate
that 441 acres of wetlands will be created or protected.

The project is located in the northwestern
corner of Little Vermilion Bay in southern Vermilion Parish.
The total project area is 964 acres, including 67 acres of marsh
and 897 acres of water.

"The goal of Little Vermilion and
our other restoration projects here is to protect and restore
ecologically valuable areas of coastal Louisiana for the benefit
of fisheries, marine habitat and other important resources,"
said Capt. Gary Petrae, acting deputy regional administrator
for NOAA Fisheries' Southeast
Regional Office. "NOAA is pleased that the Little Vermilion
project is showing early signs of success and we plan to apply
what we're learning here to future projects."